Life-saving device.



J. SGARLETT.

LIFE SAVING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1913.

1,075,1 22, Patented. 0013.7, 1913.

mwwboz COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co, WASHINGTON. I) c.

JAMES SCARLETT, 10F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

LIFE-SAVING DEVICE.

Specification'of LettersfPaten-t.

Patented Oct. 7 i913.

Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to life saving suits of the type which can be slipped over a person fully dressed and an object of the invention is to provide a life saving suit with an interior of wool-or other Warming material.

A further object of'the invention is to pro- I vide a suit which will be heavier in the leg portions than in the neck portions.

A. still further object of the invention is to provide an airbag held in the interior of the life saving suit, and in provid ing means for holding the air bag in place, said means serving also to protect the air bag from the heat of the intending user.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a life saving suit with a flexible neck portion, the neck portion being pro-- vided with a strip of transparent material.

With these and other objects in view the i vention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, where corresponding parts are designated by similar reference characters: Figure 1 is a view of a diver wearing the suit forming the subject-matter of the present matter, the suit being shown in section, Fig. 2 is an elevation of the suit showing parts thereof in section, Fig. 3 is a detail section showing the valve connections for the air bag.

There have been put on the market a number of life saving devices which are effective in keeping the user afloat, but insomuch as the body is brought in intimate contact with the water, which is frequently very cold, the person using the life saver contracts sickness due to the exposure, which frequently results in death.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an air supported water tight suit lined with wool or other warm material which will be effective in retaining the animal heat of the user.

Referring to the drawings, the suit as a whole is designated as l, the suit having a flexible neck portion 2 provided with a cord or other securing means 3 for the purpose of drawing the upper end of the neck portion together to prevent ingress of water. The portion 2 is also provided with a transparent strip 4, which may be of glass, but preferably celluloid or Xylo-nit-e. The body is provided with arms 5 which may be'made of the same material of which the neck portion is made. The, central portion of the body is made somewhat heavier than the neck portions while the leg portions are made still heavier so that the thickness or weight of the material of which the suit is constructed increases from the neck portion to the leg portions. For the purpose of sustaining the body there is. provided an air bag 6, loosely mounted within the body portion 1, and held in place by means of a flap 7 and strapsS, the flap 7 being designed to be secured to the back of the suit, as shown in Fig. 2, and is provided with suitable openings 9 for engaging buttons or other securing means 10. The object in placing the flap 7 in the back of the suit is to prevent the feet of the intending user from coming in direct contact with the air bag 6. Secured to the sides and front portion of the suit are the straps 8, which straps are provided with openings for engaging buttons or other securing means 11 secured to the suit. The air bag 6 is made in one cylindrical piece and has its end portions provided with interlocking means, buckles 12 being shown in the drawings for this purpose. For the purpose of inflating the air bag 6 there is provided a tube 13 provided with a check valve 14 and an exhaust valve 15, this check and exhaust valve being of the usual construction, as shown in Fig. 3. The whole interior of the body portion and arm and leg portions is provided with a lining of wool or other suitable warming or heat detaining material.

In the use of the suit, the air bag is first inflated and then the suit is drawn on over the clothes of the intending user. After the suit has been completely drawn on the cord or other drawing means 3 may be drawn taut for the purpose of closing the top of the neck portions 2, or the user may grasp the free end of the neck portion with his hand to prevent the inflow of water.

He will then either be let into the water or I means of the cord 8. It will be seen that the air bag 6 completely encircles the body of the user, and that for this reason there is an air space between the upper partof the body portion and the user sufficient to contain air for sustaining life a short time under water, so that if by any accident the person using the suit should come up under a vessel after jumping into the water, he will be able to look out of the transparent closure 4 and free himself from the bottom of the vessel or other wreckage, the air inclosed within the suit being sufficient to sustain life while the user is freeing himself. Insomuch as the arm and neck portions are made of flexible material the occupant of the suit will be able to move about freely in the water. Insomuch as the leg portions of the suit are made of heavier and thicker material than the upper portions there will he a natural tendency for the suit to assume an upright position in the water.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for What I claim is 1. A life saving suit of increasing thickness from the top to the bottom thereof, and a floating device in the upper part of said suit adapted to space part of the suit from the body of the wearer.

2. A life saving suit comprising a floating device carried within the suit, means for holding said device to the suit, and a flexible member hinged to the suit from the interior thereof adapted to cover a portion of said floating device.

3. A life saving suit comprising a floating device carried within the suit, means for securing said floating device to the suit, and auxiliary means for supporting said floating device, said auxiliary means comprising a flap hinged to the interior of the suit and adapted to cover a portion of said floating device.

4. A life saving suit comprising a floating device carried within the suit, means for supporting said floating device, a flap hinged to the inside of the back of said suit, and means formed on the flap adapted to engage a portion of the suit to hold said flap around the floating device.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES S GARLETT.

l/Vitnesses G. WARD KEMP, C. A. PHILLIPS.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Batents,

Washington, D. C. 

